I guess so.

He never dropped his knife. Evidently I would have counterattacked there.

It didn't last too long, and it didn't end by knockout or throwing him to the ground either. He ended up running away (to the truck maybe 100 feet away where his buddy was waiting with the engine on) - obviosly they were expecting an easy win aided by the knife and a hard-fought win was as much as a defeat for them. In that I was lucky. But at least I held my ground for long enough to cause the withdrawal. If I had surrendered I doubt I would be alive to tell you.